allthingsharlem.com takes to the streets and asks New Yorkers about their 2009. Barack Obama's inauguration and the death of Michael Jackson were the two top news stories people said they will remember. Also check out footage from allthingsharlem.com's coverage of these events is included in this piece. MOS interviews shot by Eli Reed.

  vote to get rid of student Metrocards.

Click to read more ...

HOLIDAY sounds of Gospel for Teens and Bloomberg in Harlem

12/17/09 - allthingsharlem.com was there when Mayor Michael Bloomberg came to Harlem to light a Christmas tree at Jackie Robinson Park at 146th and Bradhurst. Vy Higginsen's Gospel for Teens provided entertainment for the Harlem crowd.

O Christmas Tree

Shopping for a Christmas tree got you in a Holi-DAZE? Allthingsharlem.com tells what you need to know before you buy.

On December 3rd the Appellate Division by a 3-2 vote ruled The exercise of eminent domain power by the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development Corporation benefit a private elite education institution is violative of the Taking Clause of the U.S Constitution, article 1 & 7 of the New York Constitution and the first principles of the social contract. In a scathing decision the court detailed a riveting account of Columbia Universitys collusion with the State to gain 100% of a 17 acre parcel expanding from 125th to 133rd Street between 12th Avenue and Broadway at a projected cost of 6 billion dollars. Two separate lawsuits challenging the eminent domain determination were filed by Tuck-It-Away storage owned by Nick Sprayregen and Parminder Kaur, owner of a gas station in the development parcel. Sprayregens lead attorneys were noted civil rights attorney Norman Siegel and attorney Philip Van Buren. Columbia University has indicated it will appeal the decision. Nellie Bailey sits at Still Here Harlem Productions studio with allthingsharlem.com.

Footage From The Hearing

allthingsharlem.com sits down one on one with Pastor Vernon Williams of Perfect Peace Ministry, Youth Outreach Inc. Williams has tough talk for the community for the Harlem community.



This video contains footage from the aftermath of the shooting incident, including the victim and the NYPD. It also contains and commentary from Joseph "Jazz" Hayden, CEO/Founder of Still Here Harlem Productions, and creator of allthingsharlem.com responding to incident that occurred just outside his studio office in Harlem.

Some discretion advised due to footage of the victim after being shot.

This incident took place on November 9, 2009.

allthingsharlem.com's Shayvonne Jenkins takes us to a new spot in Harlem. Trattoria Amici, which translates as "Neighborhood Friend" brings a taste of Italy uptown. Shayvonne sits with manager Berst Fanfan and chats about the most popular dishes and best nights to go. Shot and edited by Dante Higgins.

Mayor Bloomberg says he's proud of the job he's done in the area of community police relations.

Includes footage of famous incidents of the NYPD and Comissioner Ray Kelley interacting with the community of New York City.

Dante Higgins of allthingsharlem.com catches up with newsman Byron Pitts as he reads from his new book Step Out On Nothing. Harlem readers have a Q&A session with the author and get Pitts and his mother to sign their books.

Founder Joseph "Jazz" Hayden of allthingsharlem.com finds basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the corner of 137th and Adam Clayton Powell in Harlem, NY. He's shooting scenes for his documentary "On The Shoulders of Giants". The film is a glimpse at Harlem history through the Black basketball team Harlem Hens, who played here at this venue...

visit: www.allthingsharlemproductions.blogspot.

­com for more info



On October 6, 2009 allthingsharlem.com asked members from the Party for Socialism and Liberation whether Mayor Bloomberg is good for Harlem.

Frances Villar a member of their party is also running for Mayor in the election on Noveber 3.

allthingsharlem.com is there when activists gather outside Army Recruitment offices on 125th and Lenox on Friday Oct 16, 2009. They rallied against military recruiters in schools. Nellie Bailey joins other groups like the New Black Panther Party and the NY Civil Liberties Union for this protest.

On October 6, 2009 residents of Harlem along with community leaders met to discuss the issue of youth violence in Harlem.

This meeting was in response to and incident that happened the day before where one teenager was shot and 2 others stabbed outside a Harlem elementary school in the morning hours.

Some of those in attendance included, the host of the event Reverend Vernon Williams representing Harlem Clergy and Community Leaders Coalitions, Chet Whye of Harlem 4, State Senator Bill Perkins, Democratic nominee for District Attorney Cy Vance, The New Black Panther Party and others.

The goals of this meeting were to define the problem and start to come up with some solutions. ALLTHINGSHARLEM.COM

Dante Higgins from allthingsharlem.com travels downtown to take part in New York City's Halloween Parade. He's joined thrillernyc.com and other Michael Jackson fans in learning the moves to Michael Jackson's Beat It for a mass dance to be performed in the largest public halloween celebration in the US.
Xiomara Forman and Scott Jurkowski lead the way in this video of their first rehearsal. First time dancers and King of Pop fans Calvin Palguta, Angela Rito and Marcus Escobedo break it down for you.
For more info visit: THRILLERNYC.COM

NYC Mayor's Race 2009
What are they saying around Harlem? On October 6, 2009, allthingsharlem.com stopped by Zip Code and Seville Lounges to find out.

Harlem residents, business owners, ex-offenders sound off on New York's Mayoral Race. Community members break down their top 3 issues for a mayoral candidate. They also take on Mayor Bloomberg and his relationship with the area. In this video voters discuss Michael Bloomberg's third term and ask the Mayor to host a face to face Town Hall Meeting in Harlem.

Harlem represents in Chris Rock's new movie,"Good Hair". TRY Star Barbershop on Lenox Ave is featured in the film. Dante Higgins from allthingsharlem.com is a regular at the shop and meets up with the owner, Terry to see what viewers can expect. Folks in the shop discuss the term "good hair" as one customer reveals some of her own hair secrets. Chris Rock's cousin is also a customer of the shop and is there when we visit.

On Sunday September 20th, sunny weather, tasty food and many marching bands met up in Harlem for the 40th annual African American Day parade. The parade is billed as the largest black parade in America and starts on 111th Street, marching up Adam Clayton Powell to 142nd Street. Participants travel from 12 different states to be a part of this event.

In this report, allthingsharlem.com producer and cameraman Paolo Walker catches up with NY NAACP President Hazel Dukes who enjoyed the parade on Adam Clayton Powell. New York Mayoral Candidates Bill Thompson and Frances Villar were also in attendance. Poet and publisher Jade D Banks also spoke with our crew. Its like a black folks explosion, she said. Congressman Charles Rangel, one of seven Grand Marshals rides along the parade route while men dressed in black waive red, green and black flags chanting to the crowd, Love yourself.

Dancing & Celebrating - Harlem's African American Day Parade 2009

Dante Higgins gets Harlem's voice on the recent arrest ofAfrican American Harvard Henry Louis Gates and racial profiling in NY. Councilman Robert Jackson, NY State Civil Rights Bureau Chief Alfonso David and Harlem residents tell allthingsharlem.com what they think about these situations. Cordie Piper explains how he's been racially profiled in NYC. Jackson and David advise you to report police misconduct.

NYC Council Member and chair of the Councils Education Committee tells Dante Higgins of allthingsharlem.com that he hopes the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) designed to oversee mayoral control doesnt continue to be a rubber stamp for the mayor. Jackson also outlines amendments that were added to the bill before the vote in August of 2009.

One of our producers visited this Target on 225th St., in New York City and made an interesting discovery.  In the beverage aisle he found this soda with a black girl eating watermelon on a can.  It reminded us of the caricatures of America's racist past.

We took to Target's parking lot and in front of their store to poll customers.  We showed them historic Picaninny  images then revealed this product and how it can be found on shelves right now at their local Target.

Follow up